What is chattel slavery?

Chattel slavery is the type of slavery where human beings are considered to be property and are bought and sold as such. It is the kind of slavery that existed before the Civil War in the United States.

Chattel slavery still exists in the world in countries such as Mauritania and Sudan, countries on the continent of Africa. The African slave trade began in the 1200s. Mauritania citizens were kidnapped to be used for slaves. Women and children were targeted in particular to raise new people to be sold into slavery. Raiding still continues in 2014, where girls are still kidnapped and turned into slaves.